ST. LOUIS_Pharmacy-benefits manager Express Scripts Inc. said late Wednesday its second-quarter profit rose just 1 percent, as its bottom line was weighed down by acquisition costs and lower revenue from retail pharmacy copayments. But results still topped Wall Street expectations, and the company lifted its full-year profit outlook.

The company earned $192.9 million, or 74 cents per share, up from a profit of $190.2 million, or 75 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding charges related mainly to the buyout of WellPoint's pharmacy benefit management business, the company said it earned 88 cents per share.

Revenue fell slightly to $5.5 billion from $5.53 billion. The revenue figures include $721.1 million in retail pharmacy copayments in the latest quarter, down from $824.1 million in the year-ago period.


The results beat estimates of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, who expected profit of 86 cents per share on revenue of $5.46 billion.

Express Scripts provides pharmacy benefit services to managed-care organizations, insurance carriers, employers and other organizations.

Express Scripts said use of lower-cost generic drugs rose to 69.2 percent from 67 percent. Generic drugs are more profitable for Express Scripts than brand-name drugs.

The company raised its full-year profit outlook to between $3.72 and $3.82 per share, from prior guidance of $3.67 to $3.77 per share. Analysts expect profit of $3.58 per share, on average.

Shares of Express Scripts rose $1.76, or 2.5 percent, to $73.52 in after-hours trading after rising 65 cents to close at $71.76 during the regular trading session.